UN report: Afghan civilian deaths down, but more wounded

KABUL, Afghanistan – The United Nations has reported 600 civilian deaths in Afghanistan's war in the first quarter of this year, a marked decline from the same period last year, but says the number of civilians wounded in combat has risen.

The latest figures released by the U.N. mission on Sunday show 1,343 people were wounded during the first three months of 2016. Compared to the same period in 2015, civilian deaths are down by 13 percent but the number of wounded has risen by 11 percent.

The U.N. report says the highest number of casualties resulted from civilians being harmed during ground fighting. It says intensified fighting in populated areas caused a nearly 30 percent increase in child casualties and a 5 percent increase in casualties among women.